tracked leader, led over 3f out, clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly
chased leaders, went 2nd 2f out, soon ridden, hung right and no further impression on winner from 1f out
raced keenly, led until over 3f out, soon beaten
held up in touch, ridden well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch, ridden 3f out, one pace final 2f
chased leaders, ridden to chase winner 3f out until 2f out, kept on same pace
held up, headway over 3f out, effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong
held up, short-lived effort over 2f out
A good handicap, as it should be for the money on offer, in which Wunderwood gets the call ahead of Salute and Mudawin. Wunderwood is well-weighted based on his Listed handicap win last May and he showed that he was coming back to form with a good course and distance run last time. With conditions now in his favour, he should go well. A five-pound rise for his Sandown win should not stop Salute from running well based on his best 2005 efforts. Mudawin came good on the all-weather last time and, lightly raced could well be open to further improvement. Solent was beaten from his revised mark last time, Fortune Island might just get done for toe by something over this trip from today's mark, Chocolate Caramel displays plenty of potential but has yet to realise it on Turf yet, the handicapper has yet to show pity with Wingman, who is a victim of his consistency, and hurdles winner Pretty Star will have to recapture German 2003 form in order to play a part, Once again, then, as the selection, we nominate Wunderwood.
Wunderwood (USA) 14-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 3f out, stayed on, not trouble 1st 2, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Balkan Knight (8-9) at Goodwood 1m 4f stk (3) gf.
Solent (IRE) 5-1fav (9-4) In touch, ridden 3f out, hung left final 2f and soon weakened, 11th of 14, 5l behind Alfie Noakes (8-8) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Fortune Island (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Mid-division, pushed along 7f out, soon lost place, well behind final 5f, tailed off, last of 15, well behind Toldo (8-4) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-105 (2) sft in May.
Chocolate Caramel (USA) 7-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, chased leaders, improved over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Dower House (9-3) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Wingman (IRE) 12-1 (8-10) Held up, not clear run over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Alfie Noakes (8-8) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Mudawin (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway inside final 2f, ran on final furlong, driven to lead near finish, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in May beating Given A Choice (9-4) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Pretty Star (GER) 8-1 (9-9) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 3f out, narrowly headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 8l behind Hue (8-4) at Goodwood 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gs in May.
Salute (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) Prominent, led final furlong, stayed on gamely, won at Sandown 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gs beating Michabo (9-7) by a hd, 16 ran.